How do you deal with this?

[Gina9942]

Someone on another forum just told me that my photography was horrible, and that I "should quit while I am ahead". I feel so discouraged now. I'll admit my pictures aren't perfect but they are mine. And yes I did a maternity shoot and I didn't edit out the stretch marks or the scar on her belly button, because she didn't want it out. The scar is a part of who she is, why would I edit it out. I said I could edit anything she wanted and she didn't They told me that the pictures made them sick. It was so hurtful and honestly I just feel so sad. I am a beginner I know that but I def didn't think that my pics were terrible. One that is a silhouette they said it was blown out, it was a silhouette, the back is supposed to be like that!! ugh I am so frustrated! Has anyone ever had to deal with such hurtful words before? How did you get back on track thinking your pics were okay? I have a friend that wants pics done and now I just don't feel that I am qualified...

[DannyF1966]

It's all subjective, one person's Jackson Pollock is another person's pile of tat.

I try not to listen to random opinions of random people on the internet - you've got no idea if they're actually qualified to critique a photo anyway! What's important is that you like the way your pics look, and your friends and the people you take them for like the way they look as well.

[sebthedog1]

Ignore it. I've just had a quick look at the shots on flickr and I don't agree with what they've said at all. Pregnancy is a beautiful and natural thing and I'm glad you left the stretchmarks in. They're real and part of the process. There are some other lovely shots on your flickr page, the grandpa and the innocence shots are beautiful. Please don't give up. There are idiots all over the web. Don't listen to them.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by Gina9942

Someone on another forum just told me that my photography was horrible, and that I "should quit while I am ahead".

Nobody ever writes stuff like that for real. They're just trying to jerk you around.

Your best bet is just to be amused that someone thinks that your work is interesting enough to try to dump on.

And ya know, no matter what you do in life, there will always be someone who genuinely doesn't like it—there were people who hated Mother Teresa.

With art, that's especially true. The stronger the artwork, the more people will love it and the more people will hate it. You can't let yourself be concerned with the people who have different artistic values than you do. (Nor should you pander to those who love it but think it could be a little better if only…) Your art is your art. No one can take it away from you unless you let them.

[Swisstony10]

Ok - now take a deep breath, blink a few times, and then have a good, careful look at your Flickr stream.

See any actual horrible pictures?

No?

Didn't think so - nor did I.

Ok, they're not all perfect - you've already told us that, but they're far from horrible. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of maternity pictures, but that's just my taste. That said - I really like the allegedly-blown-out silhouette shot. And for my money, there are couple of other shots in your Flickr stream that kinda jumped out at me (in the good way).

Like you said - you consider yourself to be a beginner, so don't sweat it. Just keep on doing what you're doing, and make sure you enjoy it.

Russ.

[zona5101]

There's lots of little people on the internet that get their jollies being jerks. Forget about it. And think about this...if some is sincere they should be willing to give you constructive feedback, provide you with suggestions on improvement or be willing to point you to additional resources for assistance - not just tell you how bad your pictures are.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in there!

[Athas_orm]

I wouldn't probably act the way I'd advise you to react. If someone said that to me I'd feel like quitting and probably would. So I completely sympathise with you.

However DON'T QUIT, your doing something that makes you happy and you have some wonderful shots there.

The moments you've captured of your family are priceless to you. Sometimes we all need a harder skin.

[Aegea]

Remember, it's just one person's opinion. Your photostream certainly doesn't look horrible or sickening to me, some very nice shots there. Whoever wrote that certainly has some problems of their own they need to deal with.

[Jim Poor]

Eh, some folks are just mean.

Assuming the first few photos on your Flickr are the ones under discussion, I think you are correct in follwing the clients wishes if they REALLY don't want the editing.

I wouldn't however, publish the un-edited photos openly or use them in a portfolio. Why? Because it is so far outside of what folks are accustomed to seeing in nice, pretty maternity shots with all the humanity cloned out. Not that yours aren't nice & pretty, just not what is generally expected.

[Raoul Isidro]

Take encouragement from real people who like your work.
People who know you and come in personal contact with you.
In the cyber-world, anybody can be anybody, even being a mean critic to your works.
A jobless derelict can be king of comments on the internet.
Be strong and take good courage.